Only a handful of huge companies control every step of food production and all levels of the supply chain. These monopolies decide what farmers produce and how they produce it. Big Ag has long gaslighted us into believing that the large-scale single crop food system is resilient. But the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted this deception, laying bare how vulnerable our food system really is at the hands of a few powerful corporations.
We can’t allow this business-as-usual to continue. Food & Water Watch is leading the effort, alongside groups across the country, to overhaul our food system. We have a real chance to stand up for consumers and farmers, and prevent further merger mania in the food and agriculture industry. We need President Biden to issue an executive order that will hit the pause button on this consolidation of large agribusinesses and investigate any unfair, anti-competitive practices that harm farmers and consumers. But we need your help.
The unchecked corporate consolidation of our food system has:
Made our food system more vulnerable to supply-line disruption – Bigger corporations buy out smaller competitors, driving farmers to large, centralized processing plants. During COVID, a single plant closure forced hog farmers to euthanize thousands of animals because there were no other plants to process their hogs.
Created more dangerous labor conditions – As slaughterhouses consolidated, workers’ wages decreased, unions were diminished and hazardous working conditions increased. Slaughterhouse workers suffer from higher rates of reported injuries and illness.
Furthered the extinction of small family farms – Big Ag companies get a cut from every step in the food supply chain. This level of market power hurts farms and the surrounding rural communities by pushing out small family farms that can't compete. And farm debt is causing more than 10,000 farm foreclosures each year.
If we are going to build back a better and more sustainable food system, we need to stop corporate control over our food and farms. Farmers are the foundation of a sustainable and equitable food system, and we need to right this system so it’s fair for consumers, farmers, workers and rural communities.
Wenonah Hauter
Founder and Executive Director
Food & Water Watch
Food & Water Watch and its affiliated organization, Food & Water Action, are advocacy groups with a common mission to protect our food, water and climate. This email was sent to [email protected] - and we're glad you got it, because it's one of the most important ways you can reclaim political power, hold elected officials accountable and resist corporate control.
